Regulator for the pressure of a common source of fluid utilized in operating independent devices



Patented Sept. 27, 11927.

UNITED STATES 1,643,624 PATENT OFFICE.`

JOHANES SIGFRID LARSON, OF DEE, OREGON.

REGULATOR FOR THE PRESSURE OF A COIVIMON SOURCE OF FLUID UTIIJZEDv IN OPERATING INDEPENDENT DEVICES.

Original application ilerdr August 17, 1922, Serial No. 595,181. Divided and this application led June 6,

My invention relates to a regulator for pressure from a common .source `of fluid utilized in operating independent devices.

This application is filed to cover the patentable subject matter divided out of the application tor a patent filed by me October 1.7, 1922, Serial No. 595,181, entitled: Fluid pressureregulator, and which has since matured into a Patent No. 1,581,454, issued April 20, 1926.

The principal object of my present invention is to provid-e a 'l'luid pressure regulator, whereby fluid pressure from a common source and distributed to operate independent devices may be independently controlled and regulated irrespective ot' any fluctuation of pressure at said common source-due to the heavy demand oi service pipes connected to thesaid outlet, or from other variations of pressure at the sourcedso as to deliver the tluid under pred-etermined pressure to each oi' the independent devices.

A further object ot my invention is to provide a regulator having a single inlet leading into a main chamber from which there are provided a number of outlets controlled by independent devices, and soto arrangethe regulator as to provid-e a constant predetermined pressure ,in each ot said independent outlets, irrespective of the pressure in any of the other outlets.

A further ob]- ect of my invention is to provide a regulator for fluid pressure having few moving parts Voperated solely by differences in pressure created Within theregu lator and in Which no devices liable to breakage or Wear such as springs, Weights, vor the like are employed. i y

A still further object is to provide a'regulator for iluid pressure so constructed that fiuid will pass through my regulator With a minimum amount of resist-ance and With the greatest eiiiciency.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide manually controlled valves adapted to regulate the pressure in each serv-l ice line quickly and accurately. Y

l attain the main object of my invent-ion by a regulator comprisinga housing provided vvith a main chamber having a single inlet and a plurality of outlets, each controlled by a pressure actuated valve, these pressure actuated valves comprising .a piston Serial No. 35,502.

the operation or the pressure actuated valve located in said voutlet is correspondingly regulated.

The Working chambers being provided with an escape to the atmosphere and with ducts connecting the Working chamber re,-4 spectively, with said escape. A pressure actuated valve provided in the duct from each working chamber to said escape, said valve comprising a piston head and a stem, the piston head having greater area in crosssection than the stem, the piston head being exposed to the pressure in said Working chamber and the stem olf-the valve bearing in a port open to the main chamber of the regulator. In other Words when a predetermined pressure is exceeded in the vWorking chamber, theoutlet from the latter is automatically released by the openingy of the duct connecting the Working chamber with said escape, and the operation of `the pressure actuated valve in the related outlet` is thus' correspondinglyv regulated. A manual valve is provided in the duct connecting Athe lWorking chamber of the outlet valve with the last mentioned 'pressurevactuated valve.v

The above described and incidental teatures of my invention are hereinafter fully described With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectionalivievv of the casing and the mechanism enclosed ltherein land shows that said casing has a single inlet which is common to all oi' the units but each outlet therefrom is adjustably controlled and inde endent of the remainder andthus permits uid to pass through the devices at different pressures; the longitudinal section on Which said figur-e is taken is the line 1 1 ofFigZ;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of ,F ig. l With aportion of the casing shown as broken away to disclose the arrangement of the 'Fluid connections or ducts;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal lsection taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of' Fig. 3 except that a portion ot the casing is shown as broken away to further illustrate the arrangement of said iuid ducts or connections; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modiiied arrangement of the piston and its location in cutting oilq the flow of fluid through the outlet.

As shown in the accompanying dra-wings my regulator for Huid pressure comprises a cylindrical housing` to which heads 46 and 47 arel att-ached, the former by screws 48 and the latter by screws 49 to each end of the housing respectively. A common inletport -50 is located in the head 4T and opens into the enlarged chamber 5l, in which is provided a number or equally spaced cylindrical chambers arranged about the in ner circumference of the chamber and parallel with the central axis of the housing 45, and each cylindrical chamber is provided with an outlet 53 extending through the walls of the housing 45 to suitable service pipes, not shown in the drawings. The eylindricalv chambers 52 open into piston chambers 57' of somewhat larg-er diameter in which are provided pistons 56, the stems oli' the said pistons extending through the 'd chambers' 52 and moving therein to close the outlets 53 when in one position.

Each unit of my regulator `for fluid pressure is identical in construction and operation and l will hereafter only describe the action of one unit which may be understood to apply to the description and operation of any of the other units.

I provide an exhaust port 58 in the chamber 52 for lthe release of pressure trapped bv the piston 56 in its downward movement. f duct 59A leads into a passageway 59L in the walls of' the housing 46, as shown in Fig. 3 and connects with the duct 60 leadinginto the working chamber 57 ot the piston 56, the d'uct 6'0' being controlled by a manually ade j'ustable valve 6l as shown in Fig. l.r

The valve 6l preferably carries an indicator 62 and a scale 63 inscribed on the upper exposed surface oitV the head as shown in Fig. 2, which is calibrated so as to. indicate pounds of pressure in the service line, and thus by positioning the indicator' 62 over a calibration in the scale 63, the 'Huid' pressure in that particular service line will be regulated accordingly.

A duct 64 leads from the chamber 5'? to a chamber which opens at its smaller end into the main chamber 51, and in which is provided a balanced valve 68 similar in construction to the piston 54, and which controls thel flow of pressure through the duct 66, the duct 66 leading through a passagewayV to an escape 69 to the atmosphere7 the said escape 69 being common to all the units of my regulator. A valveV 65 is provided for regulating the duct 64', similar in construction to the valve 6l.

Removable plugs 7l and 72 are provided in the outer ends oi the chamber containing the balance valve 68 for greater convenience in cleaning and inspecting.

I 'also provide a supplementary valve similar to the beforeementioned valves 6l and 65 adapted to completely shut ori the passageway 66 leading to the escape 69.

The operation of my regulator-tor fluid pressure is as follows:

, Fluid pressure entering through the inlet 50 fills the chamber 5l and tends to force the piston 54 upwardly to the position as shown in Fig. l and to torce the valve 68 inwardly so as to assume the position also as shown in Fig. l. ln this position of the piston and valve, fluid is permitted to pass through the outlet 58 to a service line at tull line pressure, and to the chamber 57 through the duct 59q the passageway 59a, and the duct 60, assuming all the control valves .61, 65and 6'? to be open to their fullest extent. The piston head 56 having a. larger cross-'sectional area than its stem 54, an equal amount ot pressure will exert a greater force and tend to force the pistonrand vits stem downward thus closing the outlet 59 to the service line and shutting o the pressure in the duct 59, the passageway 59, and the duct 60, thus the pressure in the chamber 57 is reduced and the piston 56 is orcedupward `again by the higher pressure against the stem 54, this at tion being repeated until an equilibrium is reached between the pressure in the chamber 5l and the pressure in the chamber 57.

The balanced' valve 5S also yhaving a greater cross-sectional area on its head than on its stem will function similarly to the piston 56, and an equal vor greater amount oi: pressure will tend to force the valve 68 toward the upper, narrow portion of the chamber 5l and when in the latter position the duct 66 will be opened by the annular'groove in the stem of the valve 68 and pressure will be allowed to escape from the chamber4 5'? through the duct 66, the Vpassageway .O and the escape 69 to the atmosphere.` i

As a means of control and regulation of my vregulator for fluid' pressure, the valve 65 is provided for regulating the pressure acting on the balance valve 68, which controls the amount of pressure flowing through the duct 66 to the escape 69. rlhe valve 67. is also provided'v i'or independently regulating the pressure allowed to escape through the said escape 69.

The valve 6I being calibrated in 'pounds of pressure in the service line controls the noV amount of pressure allowedto act against the piston 56, and consequently the pressure in the outlet 53 to the said service. line.

rIlhe valves 65 and 67 are calibrated for adjustment, relative to the valves 6l and are provided to maintain a constant desired pressure as set by the valve 61. in combination with the balance valve 68 irrespective of' the fluctuation of pressure in the chamber 57 or 5l due to the heavy demand or" the service line or from various causes at the source. f.

The operation ofmy regulator in maintaining a constant pressure in the service line irrespective of the pressures in the chamber 5l is attained by the action of the valve 68 yin that a decrease in pressure in the chamber 5? will allow the valve 68 actuated by the pressure in the main chamber to close the passageway 66 leading to the escape 69,

hence causing the pressure in the said chamber 57 to rise Auntil it reaches the predetermined point set by the valve 6l, when the valve 68 will again be actuated by the 1ncreased pressure to open the passageway 66 thus maintaining a constant pressure in the chamber 5.7 and consequently in the outlet 53 and the service line. The valve 68 functions continuously with the fluctuation of pressure to maintain an even pressure against the piston 56. v

Referring now to Fig. 5, I show a modification of my invention in the arrangement of: the piston stem and its action in cuttingl off the pressure through the outlet 53. In this modilicatiomthe chamber 52 is of slightly smaller diameter below the outlet 53, and the end of the piston stem 54 is beveled, and so constructed that in its operation it will seat against the shoulder in the chamber 52, just below the outlet 53 formed by the smaller diameter of the lower part of the chamber. In this arrangement, I attain a more sensitive adjustment and control of my pressure regulator in that any movement of the piston stem 54 will affect the pressure in the outlet 53. Y

I claim:

l. In a regulator for the pressure of a common source of fluid utilized in operating independent devices, said regulator comprising a housing provided with a main chamber having a single inlet anda plurality of outlets, a pressure actuated valve in each outlet, said valve comprising a piston head and a stem, the piston head having greater area in cross-section than` the stem, the latter traversing and controlling said outlet, ducts connecting the working chamber of said valve with said outlet of the main chamber, respectively, and manual valves controlling the last mentioned ducts whereby the pressure in the working chamber of the valve cylinder may be varied relatively to that existing in the related outlet, and the opera-V veach outlet, said valve comprising a piston head and a stem, the piston head having greater area 1n cross-section than the stem, the latter traversing and controlling said outlet, ducts connecting the working cham- `ber of said valve with said outlet ot the main chamber, respectively, an escape to the atmosphere, ducts connecting the working chamber respectively with said escape, pressure actuated valve inthe duct from each working chamber to said escape, said valve comprising a piston-head and a stem, the piston-head having greater area in crosssection than the stem, the piston-head being exposed to the pressure inv said workingy chamber, the stem of the valve bearing in a port open to the main chamber of the regulator, whereby a predetermined pressurev in the working chamber of the outlet valvecylinder is automatically relieved by the opening of the duct connecting the working chamber with said escape, and the operation of the pressure actuated valve in the related outlet is correspondingly regulated.

3. In a regulator for the pressure of a common source of fluid utilized in operating independent devices, said regulator comprising a housing provided with a main chamber having a single inlet and a plurality of outlets, a pressure actuated valve in each-outlet, said valve comprising'a piston-head and a stem, the piston-headhaving greater area in crosssection than the stem, the latter traversing and controlling said outlet, ducts connecting the working chamber of said valve with said outlet of the main chamber, respectively, an escape to the atmosphere, ducts connecting the working chambers respectively with said escape, a pressure actuated valve in the duct from each working chamber to said escape, said valve comprising a piston-head and a stem, the piston-head having a greater area in cross-section than the stem, the pistonkhead being exposed to the pressure in said ated valve.

outlets, a pressure actuated valve in eachl outlet, said valve comprising a piston-head and a stem, the piston-head having greater area in cross-section than the stem, the latter Y traversing and controlling said outlet, ducts connecting the nf'orliing chamber o: said valve with said outlet ot the main chamber, respectively, an escape to the atmosphere, ducts connecting the Working chambers, respectively with said escape, a pressure actuated valve in the duct` from each Working chamber' to said escape, said valve comprising a piston-head and a stem, the pistonhead having greater area in cross-section than the stein, the piston-head being exposed to the pressure in said: Working chamber, the stem of the valve bearing in a port open to tie mai-n chamber ot the regulator, whereby al predetermined pressure in the Working chamber off' the o-utlet valve cylinder is automatically relieved by the opening ot the duct connecting the Working chamber with said escape, and the operation ot the pressure actuated valve inthe related outlet is correspondingly regulated, a manual valve in the duct connecting the working cli-amber of the outlet valve with the last mentioned pressure actuated valve, and a supplemental manu-al valve in the last mentioned duct controlling 'the outlet therefrom to sai-d escape.

5. In a regulator the pressure of a common sou-ree of fluid utilized in operating independent devices, said regulator comprising a hou-sing provided Witha main chamber having a single inlet and a plurality of outlets, a pressure actuated valve in each outlet, said valve comprising a piston-head and a stem, the piston-head ha Ting greatery area in cross-section thanV the stem, the latter traversing and controlling said outlet, ducts connecting the Working chamber oi said valve with said outlet ot the main Vchanaber, respectively, manual valves controlling the last mentioned ducts whereby the pressure in the Working chamber olf the valve cylinder may be varied relatively to that existing in the related outlet, and the operation ot the pressure actuated valve located in said outlet correspondingly regulated, an escape to the atmosphere, ducts connecting the Working chambers respectively with said escape, a pressure actuated valve inthe duct from each working chamber to said escape, said valve comprsing a piston-head and a stem, the piston-head having greater area in crosssection thanl the stem, the piston-head being exposed to the pressure in said Working chamber, the ste-in o the valve bearing in a port open to the main chamber ot the regulator, whereby a predetermined pressure in the Working chamber of the outlet valvecylinder opening et the duct connecting the W rlting chamber Withfsaid escape, and the operation of the pressure actuated valve inthe related outlet is` correspondingly regulated, a manual valve in the duct connecting the Working chamber oit the outlet valve with the last mentioned pressure actuated valve, and a supplemental manual valve in the last mentioned duct controlling the outlet therefrom to said escape.

J. SIGFRID LARSON.

is automatically relieved by theV 

